In a classic Theater Talk encore, writer Gore Vidal talks about The Best Man, his timeless political drama, now being revived on Broadway. The play speaks as relevantly about the political situation today as it did when first produced in 1960. Vidal also discusses his close acquaintance with other political figures ranging from J.F.K. to his “Cousin Albert” (who was about to lose the election when we did this interview with Vidal in 2000).

Our guests are Richard Bean, Nicholas Hytner and James Corden – the writer, director and star respectively of the new hit comedy, One Man, Two Guvnors. Based on the Eighteenth Century Goldoni farce, The Servant of Two Masters, Bean’s freewheeling adaptation is set in 1960’s Brighton. In an interview taped just two days after the British import’s triumphant New York opening, the trio discusses the work that made the show a success and share the enthusiasm that comes with being out-of-town artists who have scored on Broadway.

Our guest is the revered cabaret performer Marilyn Maye, who reminisces about her lengthy career as one of the most sought-after jazz singers and interpreters of popular song. Beginning as a pre-teen vocalist in Iowa, Maye eventually appeared 76 times on The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson (his most frequent guest), and she continues to dazzle audiences even now (playing this week at Feinstein’s at Loew’s Regency in New York City). Ms. Maye is accompanied on piano by Don Rebic.

“Calling her a cabaret singer is like calling Pablo Picasso a painter; it’s true all right, but it leaves a lot out!”– Philadelphia Inquirer

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Reporter Patrick Healy of The New York Times drops by to discuss the rancorous lawsuit between the producers of Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark (including Bono and The Edge) and the show’s ousted director, Julie Taymor.

Healy also helps us to kick off Theater Talk‘s coverage of the 2012 Tony race by handicapping the competitors’ prospects in several of the hottest categories, including “Best New Musical” where Newsies and Once are running neck and neck (with several other contenders yet to break out of the gate).

We then pay tribute to the late producer Theodore Mann, an Off-Broadway pioneer and founder of the Circle in the Square Theatre. Mann passed away earlier this year and we remember him with highlights of an interview he did with us in 2010, discussing his memoir, Journeys in the Night.

Our guest is the revered cabaret performer Marilyn Maye, who reminisces about her lengthy career as one of the most sought-after jazz singers and interpreters of popular song. Beginning as a pre-teen vocalist in Iowa, Maye eventually appeared 76 times on The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson (his most frequent guest), and she continues to dazzle audiences even now (playing this week at Feinstein’s at Loew’s Regency in New York City). Ms. Maye is accompanied on piano by Don Rebic.

“Calling her a cabaret singer is like calling Pablo Picasso a painter; it’s true all right, but it leaves a lot out!”– Philadelphia Inquirer